Wilton Lopez quietly moving up in Astros pen; Santiago Casilla still ailing

June 4, 2012

Houston Astros – Wilton Lopez has quickly and quietly ascended in the Houston bullpen, and pitched the 8th inning ahead of Brett Myers on Sunday.  Fernando Rodriguez’s usage has been sporadic, and he has fallen behind Lopez and Brandon Lyon in the Astros pen.  Hierarchy change: Wilton Lopez to Set-up, replacing Fernando Rodriguez. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedHOU |Myers |Lopez |Lyon |Myers |6/4/12

 
Los Angeles Dodgers – Ronald Belisario pitched another scoreless inning on Sunday, a day after pitching the 8th inning ahead of Kenley Jansen.  Belisario, with a 1.35 ERA, has surpassed Javy Guerra on the Dodgers depth chart.  Hierarchy change: Ronald Belisario to 2nd in line, replacing Javy Guerra. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAD |Jansen |Lindblom |Belisario |Jansen |6/4/12

 
San Francisco Giants – The Giants are playing it safe with Santiago Casilla.  Bruce Bochy said could potentially have pitched over the weekend, but on Sunday, he was held out for a 2nd straight game.  As predicted in yesterday’s vulture save watch, Sergio Romo was the man to benefit, and he picked up his second consecutive save.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Casilla |Romo |Hensley |Wilson |6/4/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
Kansas City Royals – For the second time in three games, Kelvin Herrera pitched the 7th inning for the Royals, earning a hold ahead of Greg Holland and Jonathon Broxton.  In 29 innings, Herrera now has a 3.10 ERA with 25 Ks and 4 BBs.  Hierarchy change: Kelvin Herrera to 2nd in line, replacing Aaron Crow.  

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedKC |Broxton |Holland |Herrera |Broxton |6/4/12 |Soria(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri has gotten 4 of the last 6 save opps, but Downs could still snag a save on any night if match-ups are right.
2. Shawn Camp, Chicago Cubs – James Russell has gotten all of the save opportunities since Rafael Dolis’s demotion, but his usage on Sunday- he pitched in the 8th inning with the Cubs trailing- shows he’s not being used like a traditional closer just yet.  Should the Cubs face a righty-heavy 9th inning, Shawn Camp could pick up a save.
3. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – If the Giants continue to hold out Santiago Casilla, then Sergio Romo or Javier Lopez could nab a save.

Tyler Clippard is clear-cut choice in Washington; Sergio Romo nabs a save

June 3, 2012

San Francisco Giants – Santiago Casilla is day-to-day after hurting his knee in Friday’s game, so the Giants used Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo to get through a 1-run 9th inning on Saturday, with Romo earning his first save of the year.  Bruce Bochy told the San Francisco Chronicle that Casilla might be able to pitch today.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF |Casilla |Romo |Hensley |Wilson |6/3/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
Washington Nationals – The Nationals’ closer by committee– if there ever was one– appears to be finished.  Tyler Clippard has gotten all four save opportunities since Henry Rodriguez was demoted, and he’s converted all four.  During that span, Sean Burnett and Craig Stammen have been used exclusively as set-up men.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedWAS |Clippard |Burnett |Stammen |Storen |5/26/12 |Storen(DL) |Lidge (DL) |

 
Seattle Mariners – Hisashi Iwakuma recorded the save on Saturday, and has picked up two saves in his last two outings. However, his save on May 30th was of the 3-inning variety in a 21-8 win over the Texas Rangers, and his save yesterday was in the 12th inning after Seattle had used most of their other relievers. Brandon League and Charlie Furbush were both used before the 9th inning, and Tom Wilhelmsen pitched 3 scoreless in picking up the win.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |League |Furbush |League |6/3/12

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Scott Downs is still sporting a 0.00 ERA, but the Angels have been leaning on Ernesto Frieri more and more lately.  Since Frieri got his first save chance, he’s been given 4 save opportunities versus just 2 for Downs.
2. Brandon League, Seattle Mariners – Tom Wilhelmsen threw three innings in yesterday’s 12-inning affair.
3. Sergio Romo/Javier Lopez, San Francisco Giants – Bruce Bochy is hoping that Santiago Casilla can return to action today, but if he can’t, Sergio Romo or Javier Lopez is the likely beneficiary.

Hisashi Iwakuma picks up 2nd save in 4 days, but is not a candidate to close for the Seattle Mariners.

June 2, 2012

Seattle Mariners – Hisashi Iwakuma has picked up two saves in his last two outings. However, his save on May 30th was of the 3 inning variety in a 21-8 win over the Texas Rangers, and his save today was in the 12th inning after Seattle had used most of their other relievers. Brandon League and Charlie Furbush were both used before the 9th inning. Tom Wilhelmsen pitched 3 scoreless innings, picked up the win and remains the favorite for save opportunities going forward.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSEA |Wilhelmsen |League |Furbush |League |6/2/12

Javier Lopez gets a save, Ernesto Frieri continues to dominate

June 2, 2012

San Francisco Giants – Starter Madison Bumgarner pitched into the 9th but after a couple guys got on Santiago Casilla came on to finish it out.  Casilla gave up a 3 run homerun to the first batter he faced and gave up 2 more hits while only getting one out, also hurting his knee in the process– the Giants have yet to announce how severe the injury is, though initially it didn’t appear serious.  Javier Lopez came on with a lefty due up and got the last two outs for the save.  No hierarchy change.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedSF  |Casilla |Romo |Hensley |Wilson |6/2/12 |Wilson(DL) |

 
Cincinnati Reds – Logan Ondrusek pitched the 8th setting up Aroldis Chapman for the save.  Ondrusek continues to have a solid season for the Reds and got the save the last time Chapman was unavailable.   Hierarchy change: Logan Ondrusek to 2nd in line, replacing Jose Arredondo.

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedCIN |Chapman |Marshall |Ondrusek |Madson |6/2/12

 
Los Angeles Angels – Scott Downs pitched the 8th and still has not given up a run for the Angels.  However Ernesto Frieri came on for the save in the 9th and has yet to give up a hit in 13 innings since coming over to the Angels.  Downs may still see some save opportunities based on match-ups but Frieri should see the majority of save opportunities going forward.  No hierarchy change. 

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedLAA |Frieri |Downs |Walden |Walden |6/2/12 |Hawkins(DL) |

 
New York Yankees – David Robertson is still a few weeks away from returning but the Yankees have already said that Rafael Soriano will continue to close even after Robertson comes back.  Robertson will likely go back to his 8th inning duties once he is healthy.  Hierarchy change: David Robertson to Set-up (DL).

 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedNYY |Soriano |Logan |Wade |Robertson |6/2/12 |Robertson(DL) |

 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Antonio Bastardo, Philadelphia Phillies – Jonathan Papelbon came on for a 5 out save yesterday.  Manager Charlie Manuel had said earlier in the week that he would not use Papelbon for more than a 3 out save until September so he may want to give him a night off after last night.
2. Sean Burnett, Washington Nationals – Although Tyler Clippard will most likely get the call if there is a save opportunity on Saturday there is always a chance that Sean Burnett could get the chance if the match-ups are right.

 
 
 
 
Andrew Miller settling nicely into relief role
 
 
Boston Red Sox – Franklin Morales pitched with the Sox trailing on Thursday, surrendering a run.  After pitching some key innings for Boston early in the season, he’s fallen out of favor with Bobby Valentine.  Andrew Miller (2.38 ERA) was summoned for the 8th ahead of Alfredo Aceves on Wednesday and has pitched well of late.  Hierarchy change: Andrew Miller to 2nd in line, replacing Franklin Morales.
 |Closer |Set-Up |2nd In Line |2013 Closer |UpdatedBOS |Aceves |Padilla |Miller |Bailey |6/1/12 |Bailey(DL) |
 
VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Scott Downs, Los Angeles Angels – Ernesto Frieri will get the majority of opportunities, but Mike Scioscia is still using a closer-by-committee.
2. Sean Burnett, Washington Nationals – Tyler Clippard has gotten all three save opportunities since Henry Rodriguez was demoted, but Davey Johnson has said that Sean Burnett could still get opportunities based on match-ups.